As titled, I am thinking of ways to make a country with the best cavalry possible. Obviously Poland is going to be one of the candidate the get the highest cavalry CA possible along with highest discipline possible, and a nearly highest morale possible. However, they won't be able to get 100% cavalry ratio. Also, we may consider not starting as Poland, but forming it later and use the benefits of the previous stuff. And, a horde may actually just be stronger than Poland just because of the 50% shock damage on flat terrain, as well as other stuff.
But for a horde, there's really not much to say, so I will focus on maximizing Poland's cavalry. First there are 2 decisions to make. Whether to start as Papal States to get Vatican library military edition for 5% discipline, and get the better Western tech units, or just start as another Eastern tech nation. This is essentially trading 5% discipline and 1 shock pip for 20% cav CA and 10% cav ratio and the cossacks regiments with 10% shock damage from Cossacks, and I would personally think that starting and staying as Eastern would be better, though I may be wrong.
Regardless of which path was chosen, one must then convert to Protestant and form Prussia to get the Prussian monarchy for 10% discipline and 2.5% from church power. Then, prepare to culture convert into Poland for Polish ideas. Wait until you are able to get the -20% fire damage age goal for Prussia in the Ages of Revolutions before you do that. Then, form Poland. Then, culture convert to Manchu.
Obviously you would get the ideas and policies that give you highest discipline, CA and morale. So that's espionage, aristocratic, defensive, offensive, quality, religious, economic.
So the above mentioned is the most ordinary build. Where you get highest possible CA, 70% cav ratio, very high morale and highest possible discipline (-5% from vatican library). Another way, is convert to Tengri for total 85% cav ratio, but you lose the 20% cav CA Cossacks estates bonus and the special regiment (Though, you can just use banners instead. It might actually be stronger than 10% shock, but probably won't make up for the 20% cav CA loss), as well as 2.5% discipline. So is losing all these bonuses worth it for adding 15% more cav to the front line? I have no idea.
But, what if non-nomad army's get the 50% shock damage (or penalty) in battle IF the leading general is from a horde? Also, are cav ratios based solely on the leading general's nation, or each country's armies calculate them separately and have different tactics for themselves? Or, do they do an average of the cav ratio? Anyway... If it is the first case, where the nomade shock bonus and the cav ratio of the entire army is based on the leading general's nation, then we are in very good shape. That means we can have all the nomad bonuses while not being a nomad as long as the leader is from a nomad nation.
So, personally for me, the best possible cav army USING POLAND, are concluded as follows:
70% cav ratio
93% cav CA
103% cav CA for cossacks
42.5% discipline (with strict and advisor)
52.5% discipline for Manchu banners
85% morale (with prestige PP inspiring leader mil tradition and defender of faith)
-20% fire damage received
-10% shock damage received OR +50% cav flanking (From general's trait)
Eastern tech troops
and for fun:
40% inf CA (take innovative for last idea group, only mentioned 7 above)
40% art CA (enough policy slots don't worry)
Then, if the nomad bonuses can be inherited from the leader:
100% cav ratio is possible
+50% shock damage in flat terrain
So, I would imagine that if the nomad bonuses can be inherited through the general then Poland is definitely strongest. Otherwise, A horde with Manchu banners could very well possibly be strongest, such as Manchu culture Yuan without Mandate of Heaven enabled to keep horde government, but I have no answer to that question.
But for a horde, there's really not much to say, so I will focus on maximizing Poland's cavalry. First there are 2 decisions to make. Whether to start as Papal States to get Vatican library military edition for 5% discipline, and get the better Western tech units, or just start as another Eastern tech nation. This is essentially trading 5% discipline and 1 shock pip for 20% cav CA and 10% cav ratio and the cossacks regiments with 10% shock damage from Cossacks, and I would personally think that starting and staying as Eastern would be better, though I may be wrong.
Regardless of which path was chosen, one must then convert to Protestant and form Prussia to get the Prussian monarchy for 10% discipline and 2.5% from church power. Then, prepare to culture convert into Poland for Polish ideas. Wait until you are able to get the -20% fire damage age goal for Prussia in the Ages of Revolutions before you do that. Then, form Poland. Then, culture convert to Manchu.
Obviously you would get the ideas and policies that give you highest discipline, CA and morale. So that's espionage, aristocratic, defensive, offensive, quality, religious, economic.
So the above mentioned is the most ordinary build. Where you get highest possible CA, 70% cav ratio, very high morale and highest possible discipline (-5% from vatican library). Another way, is convert to Tengri for total 85% cav ratio, but you lose the 20% cav CA Cossacks estates bonus and the special regiment (Though, you can just use banners instead. It might actually be stronger than 10% shock, but probably won't make up for the 20% cav CA loss), as well as 2.5% discipline. So is losing all these bonuses worth it for adding 15% more cav to the front line? I have no idea.
But, what if non-nomad army's get the 50% shock damage (or penalty) in battle IF the leading general is from a horde? Also, are cav ratios based solely on the leading general's nation, or each country's armies calculate them separately and have different tactics for themselves? Or, do they do an average of the cav ratio? Anyway... If it is the first case, where the nomade shock bonus and the cav ratio of the entire army is based on the leading general's nation, then we are in very good shape. That means we can have all the nomad bonuses while not being a nomad as long as the leader is from a nomad nation.
So, personally for me, the best possible cav army USING POLAND, are concluded as follows:
70% cav ratio
93% cav CA
103% cav CA for cossacks
42.5% discipline (with strict and advisor)
52.5% discipline for Manchu banners
85% morale (with prestige PP inspiring leader mil tradition and defender of faith)
-20% fire damage received
-10% shock damage received OR +50% cav flanking (From general's trait)
Eastern tech troops
and for fun:
40% inf CA (take innovative for last idea group, only mentioned 7 above)
40% art CA (enough policy slots don't worry)
Then, if the nomad bonuses can be inherited from the leader:
100% cav ratio is possible
+50% shock damage in flat terrain
So, I would imagine that if the nomad bonuses can be inherited through the general then Poland is definitely strongest. Otherwise, A horde with Manchu banners could very well possibly be strongest, such as Manchu culture Yuan without Mandate of Heaven enabled to keep horde government, but I have no answer to that question.
